| The estimated forty-seven million Americans, who are currently without health insurance and more than fifty million "underinsured" citizens, speak volumes about the problems of the present U.S. healthcare system. Although the U.S. is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, its government is unwilling or unable to provide basic healthcare to all citizens. In comparison to other industrialized nations, the United States ranks poorly in overall quality of health and many other criteria, despite having the best-trained healthcare professionals, advanced technology, and spending the most. In 2004, the U.S. depleted sixteen percent of its Gross Domestic Product on healthcare, a number that is projected to rise to twenty-five percent by 2030.;In the U.S., high-income citizens have a wide array of healthcare choices that offer some of the best treatments in the world, whereas, low-income civilians have access to Medicaid, which provides them with basic coverage. However, individuals who are just above the poverty level and cannot afford insurance will be affected the most by the current flawed healthcare system.;In order to develop the best plan of reform, this researcher conducted a study among selected healthcare professionals. The study was geared to elicit specific information from participants about their opinions and knowledge on different topics such as the problems of the current U.S. healthcare delivery system, comparative care in other developed nations, the Obama-Biden Healthcare Reform Bill and suggested plans for healthcare reform. It is anticipated that years of training and practice in the medical field have left healthcare professionals with a realistic view of the current system and a vision about the future healthcare needs of the country than ordinary citizens.;As indicated by the unanimous agreement of the participants, the U.S. healthcare system faces a major crisis and is in dire need of reform. Many support a single payer system, hoping to reduce high administrative costs and ultimately, reduce healthcare expenses. Others believe the U.S. should look at the healthcare delivery systems of other countries such as Canada and Britain and adopt the best practices from them, merging them with successful areas of the current U.S. system. Other options, such as a proposal for a single payer system such as Medicare for all, were also presented in this study.;This researcher proposes a plan that offers universal healthcare for all basic healthcare needs, but combined with a private system for advanced care. At the fundamental level, universal access should be a moral imperative, a right of citizenship in any country that can afford it, no different from public safety protections and access to education and libraries. However, the private insurance offered today should still be an option to those who choose to purchase it. The key difference is that those unable to afford healthcare will at least be provided with the basic coverage needed to keep them healthy. After all, a healthy America is a wealthy America. |
